'Moon-Shiners' take the long way to the beach

Published: Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 06:14 PM.

“It’s not something you really think about until you’re stuck in a van with six people for 36 hours,” Tipton said.

Though sweaty and less-than-fresh-smelling at times, Ruggaber said the packed vans actually made for great bonding sessions.

“It was really, really great to see the camaraderie,” she said. “It was so much fun.

Ruggaber said throughout the race, the van carrying the runners of the next legs were allowed to meet up with the team’s current runner at predetermined spots to offer water and to cheer her on. That was especially helpful for one runner, Traci Little, 44, a physical therapist at Alamance Regional Medical Center.

Little had to run an 8-mile stretch in the middle of the night, in pouring rain.

“She did great,” Ruggaber said.

When it got to the very last leg of the race, run by Shelli Altopp-Miller, 42, a social worker with the Alamance-Burlington School System, Ruggaber said the team ran the last 100 yards together.

But last Saturday a dozen women from Alamance and Guilford counties completed the Tuna Run 200, a relay from Raleigh to Atlantic Beach. And they did it five hours faster than they had predicted.

“Moon Shiners … Always on the Run,” was one of 63 teams and only one of three all-female teams to compete in the 36-hour, 200-mile run last weekend. With members from Burlington, Elon, Gibsonville and Whitsett, ranging in age from 25 to 50, and with occupations from high school teacher to physical therapist to clinical research associate, the group was diverse to say the least.

They were quick to discover, runners are quick to create community. It also took some preparation.

On Oct. 13, the group met at Elke Ruggaber’s home in Burlington to plan out the transportation, sleeping, hydration and food schedules for the relay. The women were taking two vans, packing six runners — sweaty from their last legs — pillows, extra clothes, toiletries, and food into each.

Each runner had three legs of the race to run, for a total of 36 in the 200-mile race. Some legs were longer distances, based on individuals’ ability. They ran at the crack of dawn. They ran at midnight. They ran in the rain.

Those running in the nighttime — defined as 6 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday — had to wear yellow safety vests and flashing clip-on lights, for safety reasons, even though it was a full moon the night of Friday, Oct. 18.

“That’s why we’re the ‘Moon Shiners,’” said Jana Tasich, 31, a science teacher at Western Alamance High School.

Tasich was one of the teammates who’d never run a relay or marathon before the Tuna Run 200, and was along for the ride with some of the more seasoned runners.

Veronica Allen, 25, an orchestra and Spanish teacher at Williams High School, tackled the longest mileage of the team, running 23.94 miles over her three legs.

Mandy Tipton, 34, a clinical research associate at UNC Chapel Hill, brought some much-needed experience, having run the 208-mile Blue Ridge Relay twice.

“I have logistical experience,” she said. “Whatever’s not covered in the (runner’s) handbook, I can explain.”

That included making sure everyone on the two vans had assigned seats.

“It’s not something you really think about until you’re stuck in a van with six people for 36 hours,” Tipton said.

Though sweaty and less-than-fresh-smelling at times, Ruggaber said the packed vans actually made for great bonding sessions.

“It was really, really great to see the camaraderie,” she said. “It was so much fun.

Ruggaber said throughout the race, the van carrying the runners of the next legs were allowed to meet up with the team’s current runner at predetermined spots to offer water and to cheer her on. That was especially helpful for one runner, Traci Little, 44, a physical therapist at Alamance Regional Medical Center.

Little had to run an 8-mile stretch in the middle of the night, in pouring rain.

“She did great,” Ruggaber said.

When it got to the very last leg of the race, run by Shelli Altopp-Miller, 42, a social worker with the Alamance-Burlington School System, Ruggaber said the team ran the last 100 yards together.

Ruggaber said the team had to recalculate what time Altopp-Miller would cross the finish line at Atlantic Beach, because everyone had overestimated how long each mile would take them.

She said when they calculated everyone’s average times and applied them to their corresponding legs, the estimated time was 38 hours and 30 minutes. “Moon Shiners … Always on the Run” completed the relay in 33 hours and 54 minutes.

“So we all went much faster,” Ruggaber said. “We were all really happy.”